Nigeria – SOS Social Centres

In Nigeria there are currently five Social Centres for children and the local community, including those in: Gwagwalada, Owu-Ibeju and Isolo.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Below is some information about some of the Social Centres that SOS Children runs in Nigeria:

SOS Social Centres around Nigeria: In-Depth

Ejigbo Lagos

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The Social Centre offers access to essential services for children’s development (eg. educational, nutritional, health support, social skills) and supports families to protect and care for their children. The programme also aims at linking families with income generating activities and offers help to improve the parents’ parenting skills.

Work and Achievements:

At the end of December 2009, a total of 21,751 beneficiaries received our support through SOS Social Centre Ejigbo Lagos.  These included 50 children in daycare (24 males and 26 females), while a total of 15,049 children (6,922 females and 8,127 males) participated in our community support programme.  Health counseling, counseling and psychological support, among others, are some of the services rendered by the social centre. Also, a total of 6,652 adults (399 males and 6,253 females) benefited from the various types of support provided by the centre.   The following are some of the centre’s major activities:  

·        During the period being reported, 13 adult graduated from the adult literacy programme on the 11th of February.

·        Our major donor (SOS Norway) visited the centre on the 28th of March.

·        We celebrated the Day of the African Child on the 6th of June.

·        Hermann Gmeiner Day was celebrated at the centre on the 23rd of June.

Gwagwalada

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

Construction work for SOS Social Centre Gwagwalada was completed in 2009, yet activities such as recruitment of personnel and service delivery have not commenced.  Three staff members will be recruited and service delivery is anticipated to start in 2010.

Owu-Ibeju

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

The SOS Social Centre Owu-Ijebu started to operate in 2004. It provides assistance to children from families affected by HIV/Aids by paying school fees and unsettled rents, donating cloths and foodstuff. At the same time it focuses on family strengthening programmes, counselling and medical care for families in need in cooperation with the local authorities and other NGOs

Isolo

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

Two SOS Social Centres were opened in August 2004 and both offer various social programmes for people in need. The first one focuses primarily on family strengthening programmes, assistance to children from families affected by HIV/Aids (by covering their school fees, unpaid rent, donating cloth and food), counselling and medical care. The second SOS Social Centre includes a family health centre (consultation room, treatment room, pharmacy); a self-help training centre with kitchen/store, sewing/embroidery room, weaving room, open-air batik and basket making place, store room; a child day-care centre with playroom and roofed outdoor playground, resting room, sanitary facilities, small kitchen; a family assistance centre with two counselling rooms and various programmes for people affected by HIV/Aids.